Month: April 2016

Thanks to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) No or Low Emission Vehicle Deployment Program, SEPTA received $2.6 million to order 25 battery-electric buses from Proterra along with 5 overhead charging stations. Not only are these buses wireless and 100% electric, but they also can recharge at an overhead charging station while the operator is laying over.  

This is Proterra’s first order from a major city on the East Coast, and one of its largest orders from a major transit agency.

These 40ft buses will run on routes 29 and 79, both of which are former Trackless Trolley lines, since the lines are short and relatively flat. SEPTA expects to receive the buses some time next year.

For more details: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/04/20/septa-grant-electric-buses/

The fourth batch of the Novabus order (7455-7484) has begun the arrive several weeks ago. These buses are slated to be assigned at Southern depot where they would operate on the route 17. This would be the first time in history where the route 17 has have artic/bendy buses to operate on it. Currently two buses (7338 and 7400) are at Southern depot for the purpose to train operators on the route 17.